Batting

FARMVILLE, Va. - Charleston Southern rallied to tie the game up in the ninth and then held off a late Longwood rally in the 10th inning to take the Big South series finale at Charles Buddy Bolding Stadium on Sunday afternoon, 8-7.

Jason Miller and Brandon Gragilla sparked a two-out rally in the top of the ninth inning to keep the Bucs (11-6, 1-2) alive in the contest. After LWU reliever Zach Potojecki (1-2) retired the first two CSU batters in the frame, Miller singled up the middle to keep the Bucs bats going. He took second on a wild pitch and then Gragilla connected on his lone hit of the game with a base hit up the middle scoring Miller to knot the game up at 4-4.

Cody Smith retired two LWU (8-12, 2-1) batters in the ninth before Eddie Hiott (2-1) retired the final Lancer in the frame to send the game into extra-innings.

Aaron Miller, Kyle Vesnesky, and Tyler Kinney all drew walks to load the bases with one out in the 10th before the Lancers brought in lefty John Gregory to face Nate Blanchard. Blanchard worked a full-count before the senior infielder connected on a two-run single to left field giving the Bucs the 6-4 lead. Kinney added to the CSU lead scoring on a wild pitch. Jason Miller brought in the final CSU run with his fourth hit of the contest with his single to right driving in Blanchard.

An error nearly cost the Bucs in the bottom of the 10th as Brandon Harvell reached on a two-out miscue scoring Alex Lewis. Nathan Iskowitz followed with a two-run double to right center scoring Harvell and Nate Blakeney to cut the CSU lead down to one. Taylor Cox (S, 1) entered the contest two batters later and was able to close out the contest for the Bucs getting Antwaun Tucker to fly out to Chris Singleton in centerfield for the final play of the game.

The Buccaneers took the early 3-0 lead in the top of the second as Jaret Bennett beat out a fielder's choice allowing Aaron Miller to score for the first run of the game. Cole German crossed the plate on an errant throw on a failed pickoff attempt, and Blanchard followed with an RBI single scoring Bennett to give CSU the 3-0 lead.

Back-to-back two-out Buccaneer errors in the fifth led to the Lancers taking the 4-3 lead in the frame. Mike Osinski connected on a two-out, two-run single to put Longwood on the board. Justin Mitchell and Osinski both crossed the plate later in the inning on the pair of CSU errors to give the Lancers the lead until the CSU comeback in the ninth.

Kyle Dyson took the no-decision in the start for the Bucs on the afternoon with the redshirt senior going 4.2 innings allowing four hits and four runs (two earned) while striking out four. Ryan Stoudemire, Jamison Mobbs, and Cody Smith combined for four innings' of shutout relief before the Bucs' bullpen's late game action.

Buccaneer Notables

Jason Miller extended his team-best nine-game hitting streak on Sunday afternoon as the redshirt sophomore infielder connected on a season-high four hits in the contest. He added his team-high sixth double of the season in the game and has hit safely in 14 of CSU's 17 games in the 2017 season.

CSU ended its losing streak at two games and prevented the series sweep for the second time in the 2017 season. The Bucs also fell in their first two games at Florida International before taking the Saturday series finale.

CSU improves to 2-0 in extra-inning contests in the 2017 season with the Bucs picking up their second free baseball win of the year on Sunday. CSU previously took an 8-7 decision over Hofstra on March 5th in 11 innings with Jason Miller providing the game-winning walk-off single scoring Chris Singleton.

Up Next Charleston Southern remains on the road for midweek action this week as the Buccaneers travel to Harley Park and USC Upstate on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. The Bucs travel to Founders Park in Columbia, S.C. on Wednesday night for a matchup against South Carolina with first pitch set for 7 p.m.